Elgin man on leave as church group director faces child porn charges
A West Dundee church youth group director who is accused of sexually assaulting a youth group member last summer is now charged with six counts of child pornography possession.
The additional charges against Chad A. Coe, 32, of Elgin, were revealed Friday after an indictment was unsealed in Kane County court.
Coe was placed on paid administrative leave from the First Congregational Church of Dundee after his arrest in July on charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault of a girl between 13 and 17.
If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
“My client professes his innocence and he's not guilty of all the charges pending against him,” defense attorney D.J. Tegeler said.
Coe was arrested in December on the child pornography possession warrant. He posted $10,000 bond and was released from jail, Tegeler said.
The charges say Coe possessed the pornography between September 2011 and August 2013, and are punishable by anywhere from probation to seven years in prison if convicted.
Tegeler said there are no allegations that child pornography images are of any church members or the girl that Coe is accused of sexually assaulting.
Coe is next due in court Feb. 19, and Tegeler said Coe will plead not guilty.
Coe, who is not an ordained minister, has served as the church's director of youth ministries for about six years.